Portable projection screen assembly

ABSTRACT

A portable screen assembly includes a first side support connected to a fabric, a second side support connected to the fabric, and a center support assembly. An expandable support brace is also included in the portable screen assembly. The expandable support brace is connected to the center support assembly, the first side support, and the second side support. A portable screen assembly capable of reproducing sound includes a first side support, a second side support, and a center support assembly. A speaker capable of reproducing sound is incorporated within at least one of the first side support, the second side support, and the center support assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a portable front projector screenassembly and specifically relates to a portable front projector screenassembly that may be stored in a small storage area and deploys in amanner to accommodate multiple aspect ratios.

2. Description of Related Art

Traditional portable projector screen assemblies are extremely bulky.For example, an 80″ screen (the 80″ measured diagonally at a 16:9 aspectratio) requires utilization of a 70″ tube in order to store theprojector screen and to transport the portable projector screenassembly. For many people, a 70″ tube is unwieldy. A main reason for thesignificant length (e.g., 70″) of the portable projector screen assemblyis that traditional portable projector screen assemblies are based on aroller design that deploys the screen in either a top/down or bottom/upfashion. As a result, many retailers that sell projectors are unwillingto merchandise projector screens because of their large size. Inaddition, there are portable screen assemblies that utilize a mast tohang the screen. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate such projector screen assemblies.

A few portable projector screen assemblies deploy rollers horizontally,i.e., from side-to-side. Currently, the design is limited to smallerscreen sizes and these portable projector screen assemblies are utilizedmost often in table-top display applications.

Furthermore, traditional portable projector screen assemblies are fixedto one aspect ratio. Historically, portable projector screen assemblieshave been designed to accommodate square images for overhead projectorsor to accommodate images with a 4:3 aspect ratio for businesspresentations. Recently, portable projector screens have been introducedwith a 16:9 aspect ratio for widescreen movie viewing.

In addition, projector prices have steadily decreased, and projectorshave become affordable to new customer segments such as small businessowners and home entertainment enthusiasts. These customer segments oftenuse a projector for dual purposes: 1) business presentations; and 2)widescreen movie viewing at home.

Accordingly, a need exists for a portable projector screen assembly thatis not bulky and thus is easy to transport. Furthermore, the screenshould be small enough that retailers can easily merchandise theportable projector screen assembly. A need also exists for a portableprojector screen assembly that can accommodate multiple aspect ratios sothat a business owner can display a business presentation at a 4:3aspect ratio and then use the same portable projector screen assembly toproject a wide screen movie at a 16:9 aspect ratio.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate portable projector screen assemblies according tothe prior art;

FIG. 4(a) illustrates a front view of a first embodiment of the portableprojector screen;

FIG. 4(b) illustrates a back view of a first embodiment of the portableprojector screen according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4(c) illustrates the first embodiment of the portable projectorscreen in a closed or storage mode;

FIG. 4(d) illustrates a front view of an opened or deployed portableprojector screen according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5(a) illustrates a front view of the portable projector screenassembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5(b) illustrates a back view of the portable projector screen ofthe second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5(c) illustrates a closed or storage mode of a portable projectorscreen according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5(d) illustrates an open portable projector screen according to asecond embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6(a) illustrates a portable projector screen in a closed positionthat has a plurality of support legs and a plurality of support feetextended according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6(b) illustrates a portable projector screen in an open positionwhere the screen is removed according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6(c) illustrates an opened or deployed portable projector screenincluding the actual screen according to a third embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7(a) illustrates a top view of a portable projector screen assemblywhen the projector screen is closed according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7(b) illustrates a top view of a portable projector screen when thescreen is opened according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7(c) illustrates a back view of a portable projector screenassembly including an opened screen according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7(d) illustrates a front view of a height adjustment mechanismaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7(e) illustrates a side view of a height adjustment mechanismaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7(f) illustrates a top view of the height adjustment mechanismincluding circular holes according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7(g) illustrates an alternative height adjustment mechanism for aportable projector screen according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8(a) illustrate an extendable support brace in a closed positionaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8(b) illustrates an extendable support brace opened to a first sizeor a first position according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8(c) illustrates an extendable support brace opened to a secondsize or a second position according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9(a) illustrates a front view of a portable screen assembly havingan automatic deployment mechanism where the screen has been removedaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9(b) illustrates a side cross-section view of the automaticdeployment mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9(c) illustrates the automatic deployment mechanism according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of opening a portable projector screenillustrated in FIGS. 4-6 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a portable screen assembly including a gear andchain assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the portable screen assembly in aclosed position according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a front view of an opened portable screen assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a back view of a portable screen assembly accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a method of opening a portable screen assemblyillustrated in FIGS. 12-14 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates a portable screen assembly with a center sidesupport and two side supports according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 17 illustrates a back view of an opened portable screen assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates a portable projector screen in a closed positionaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 illustrates a method of opening a portable screen assemblyillustrated in FIG. 16 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate a front view and a back view,respectively, of a first embodiment of a portable projector screenaccording to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4(a) illustrates afront view of a first embodiment of the portable projector screen. Theportable projector screen 400 includes a first side support 410, asecond side support 420, a first support foot 430, a second support 432,a first indentation 445, a second indentation 450, a support legadjustment mechanism 460, a first grip 446, and a second grip 451. Inorder to open the portable projector screen 400 in a horizontal fashion,a consumer or user may place a hand and grasp, illustratively, the firstgrip 446 or a first indentation 445 of the first side support 410.Alternatively, the consumer or user may place a hand and grasp,illustratively, the second grip 451 or second indentation 450 of thesecond side support. In an embodiment of the invention, the first grip446 and the second grip 451 may have a surface coated with a stickymaterial or a rubber material to allow a user to obtain traction or gripin pulling the first side support 410 or the second side support 420. Inan embodiment of the invention, the first indentation 445 and the secondindentation 450 may have a surface that is indented or lower than thesurface of the first grip 446 and the second grip 451, respectively.

The first support foot 430 and the second support foot 432 rest againstthe first side support 410 and the second side support 420,respectively. In an embodiment of the invention, the first support foot430 is stored in a vertical position, (e.g., perpendicular to a planarsurface) and rests in a plane either next to the first side support 410or in a parallel plane to the first side support 410. The support legadjustment mechanism 460 includes an indented grip 462. The indentedgrip 462 may be to unlock and then lock a support leg or plurality ofsupport legs in order for the support leg(s) to deploy or extenddownward from a center support assembly (not pictured).

FIG. 4(b) illustrates a back view of a first embodiment of the portableprojector screen according to an embodiment of the invention. The screen400 includes a back plate assembly 440, the third support foot 434, anda fourth support foot 436. The back plate assembly 440 includes a handle438 and a depressed portion 439. In an embodiment of the invention, thethird support foot 434 and the fourth support foot 436 are placed in avertical position with respect to the back plate assembly 440. In otherwords, they rest against the back plate assembly in a recessed portionof the back plate assembly 440 or in a parallel plane to the back plateassembly 440. The handle 438 may be utilized to carry the portableprojector screen 400. The handle 438 runs from a top portion to a bottomportion of the back plate assembly 440. In an embodiment of theinvention, the handle 438 may have a small length or make have a lengthof the entire length of the back panel. The handle 438 is attached tothe back plate assembly 440 over the depressed portion 439, which allowsa user or consumer to place their hands under the handle 438 so that thehand is next to or touching the depressed portion 439 in order to obtaina better grip of the handle 438. FIG. 4(c) illustrates the firstembodiment of the portable projector screen in a closed or storage mode.

FIG. 4(d) illustrates a front view of an opened or deployed portableprojector screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.The opened portable projector screen 465 includes a first side support410, a second side support 420, a screen 475, support legs 470, a centerbase support 480, and a number of support feet 430, 432, 434, and 436.The screen 475 may include a colored edge 476 or border. The first sidesupport 410 and the second side support 420 are both attached to thescreen 475. In an embodiment of the invention, the first side support410 and the second side support 420 may both include rollers and therollers may be attached to the screen 475. The support leg(s) 470 may beconnected to a center support spine (not pictured) at a top end and maybe connected to a center base support 480 at a bottom portion of thesupport leg(s). The length of the support leg(s) 470 (and thus theheight of the portable screen assembly 465) may be adjustable up to afull deployment length.

In an embodiment of the invention, in order to move the portable screenassembly into an open position, the portable screen assembly may beplaced on a planar surface and a consumer may grasp or hold the heightadjustment mechanism 460. In this embodiment of the invention, theheight adjustment mechanism 460 may be attached to a center supportassembly (not shown). The center support assembly may be attached to thefirst side support 410 and the second side support 420 by an expandablesupport brace (not shown). Thus, in this embodiment of the invention,when the user grabs the height adjustment mechanism 460, the centersupport assembly, the first side support 410 and the second side support420 move with the height adjustment mechanism. In one embodiment of theinvention, the user or consumer may grab an indent portion of the heightadjustment mechanism 460 in order to raise the portable screen assembly.In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the consumer may grasp ahand grip which is part of or attached to the height adjustmentmechanism 460 in order to raise the portable screen assembly. In each ofthese embodiments, the consumer pulls the hand grip or indent portionupward in a vertical direction in order to raise the portable screenassembly.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a consumer may grasp oneof a first side support 410, a second side support 420, or both, andpull them in a vertical upward direction in order to raise the portablescreen assembly. In this embodiment of the invention, the first sidesupport 410 and the second side support 420 are connected to anexpandable support brace which is connected to the center supportassembly. The portable screen assembly may also include a heightadjustment mechanism 460, but in this embodiment if the heightadjustment mechanism is included, the height adjustment mechanism 460 isnot grasped in order to raise the portable screen assembly. Because ofthe connection between the side supports 410 and 420, and the centersupport assembly, the entire portable screen assembly moves in an upwarddirection when the user pulls the first side support 410, the secondside support 420, or both in the upward direction.

Once the consumer reaches the desired height of the portable screenassembly, the consumer releases the hand grip, the indent portion, orthe side support and the height adjustment mechanism 460 causes theportable screen assembly to maintain the selected height.Illustratively, a part of the height adjustment mechanism 460 may engageor press against one or more of the support legs in order to maintainthe selected height. Illustratively, a part of the height adjustmentmechanism may engage or press against the center support assembly tomaintain the selected height.

In order for the portable screen assembly to be moved downward, e.g., toa lower height or to a closed/storage position, a consumer may touch ordepress a release lever. The release lever releases or disengages thepart of the height adjustment mechanism which is engaging either thesupport leg(s) or the center support assembly, which allows the portablescreen assembly to move in a downward vertical direction. In anembodiment of the invention, the release lever may be moved or pusheddownward in order to move the portable screen assembly verticallydownward.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4(d), the centerbase support 480 may be connected to the first support foot 430, thesecond support foot 432, the third support foot 434, and the fourthsupport foot 436. In an embodiment of the invention, the support feet onone side of the center base support 480 have an angle between them thatis equal to the angle between the support feet on the second side of thecenter base support 480. In an embodiment of the invention, the anglebetween the support feet on a front side of the center base support 480is equal to or close to equal to the angle between the support feet onthe back side of the center base support 480. In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIG. 4(d), the first support foot 430 and thethird support foot 434 are connected to a first side of the center basesupport 480 and the first support foot 430 and the third support foot434 rest on a planar surface approximately 90 degrees from each other.In other embodiments of the invention, the first support foot 430 andthe third support foot 434 may rest between 20-150 degrees from eachother. The feet 430, 434 provide front-to-back stability for the openedportable projector screen assembly 465. In this embodiment of theinvention, the feet 430 and 434 are also providing stability towards theside to which the feet 430 and 434 are deployed. Likewise, the feet 432and 436 are providing stability towards the side to which the feet 432and 436 are deployed. In an embodiment of the invention, the secondsupport foot 432 and the fourth support foot 436 may be connected to asecond side of the center base support 480.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4(d), the secondsupport foot 432 and the fourth support foot 436 rest approximately 90degrees from each other on a planar surface. In an embodiment of theinvention, the amount of degrees between the first support foot 430 andthe third support foot 434 may be the same as the amount of degreesbetween the second support foot 432 and the fourth support foot 436.Alternatively, the amount of degrees between the first support foot 430and the third support foot 434 may be different than the amount ofdegrees between the second support foot 432 and the fourth support foot436. This may be necessary in environments where a larger or smallerangle between the support feet on one side of the opened portableprojector screen 465 as compared to the angle between the support feeton the other side may be advantageous. In an embodiment of theinvention, the amount of degrees between a first support foot 430 and asecond support foot 432 may be different than the amount of degreesbetween the third support foot 434 and the fourth support foot 436. Thismay be necessary when the portable screen assembly has more weighttowards the front or the back of the portable screen assembly and theangle between the front support feet are utilized or back support feetare increased to accommodate the additional weight. In an embodiment ofthe invention, the support feet in the front side of the portableprojector screen 465 may not be deployed, (e.g., support feet 430 and432 in FIG. 4(d) may not be deployed under certain operatingconditions). In other words, the support feet may be in a verticalposition and may be placed (or rest) against the support leg(s) 470 orin a parallel plane to the support leg(s) 470. In an embodiment of theinvention, the support feet on the back side of the portable projectorscreen 465 may not be deployed, (e.g., support feet 434 and 436).

In an embodiment of the invention, one or more of the support feet 430,432, 434, and 436 may have a shorter length than the other of thesupport feet 430, 432, 434, and 436. For example, the two support feet(e.g., 434 or 436) in the back of the portable projector screen may beshorter than the two support feet in the front of the portable projectorscreen. By having a shorter length for one or more of the support feet,the portable projector screen assembly 465 may be able to be installedin an environment where the available space is less in back of thescreen assembly as compared to the front of the screen assembly. In anembodiment of the invention, the converse may be true, in that theavailable space may be larger in back of the screen assembly as comparedto the front of the screen assembly.

In an embodiment of the invention, the support feet 430, 432, 434, and436 are locked into place after deployment. A locking mechanism may beutilized to keep the support feet 430, 432, 434, and 436 from movingback up to a vertical position and causing the portable projector screenassembly to collapse. In an embodiment of the invention, each of theplurality of support feet 430, 432, 434, and 436 may include a lockingmechanism. In an embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism maybe a plate or latch that rests on top of the support foot in an unlockedposition. In an embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism maybe a plate or latch that rests on the bottom of the support foot in theunlocked position. The plate or latch may fit into a recess on top ofthe support foot. In an locked position, the plate or latch slides intoa recess in the center base support 480. In other words, if there arefour support feet, as is illustrated in FIG. 4(d), the center basesupport may include four recesses, where each recess enables thecorresponding plate or latch to lock the corresponding foot into ahorizontal or deployed position. In order to unlock the support feet,the plate or latch is slid out from the recess to rest on top of thesupport foot. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a lockingmechanism includes an assembly, that automatically locks the supportfeet (e.g., 430, 432, 434, and 436), when the height adjustmentmechanism 460 is moved upward. In other words, the support feet aredeployed and the user or consumer begins to pull up the heightadjustment mechanism 460 (which also causes the first side support 410,the second side support 420, and the center support assembly 430 to moveupward) to open the portable screen assembly. Once the height adjustmentmechanism 460 is moved vertically in an upward direction, the lockingmechanism locks the support foot or plurality of support feet intoplace. When closing the portable screen assembly, once the heightadjustment mechanism reaches the planar surface (e.g., is lowered downto the planar surface), the height adjustment mechanism unlocks thesupport feet and allows the support foot or plurality of support feet tobe moved into a storage position.

In an embodiment of the invention, one support leg 470 may be utilizedto support the opened or deployed portable projector screen 465. In thisembodiment of the invention, the support leg may be a cylindrical, oval,circular, or rectangular shaped structure to provide support for theportable projector screen. Illustratively, in order to support the widthof the portable projector screen 465, the one support leg 470 may have awidth of 2 inches or greater. For example, the width of the singlesupport leg may be less than two inches if the portable projector screenhas a small weight and or the single support leg is made of a strong,durable material. In an embodiment of the invention, three or morecenter support legs may be attached to a center base support to supportthe portable screen assembly 465.

In an embodiment of the invention, a portable projector screen assemblymay include a first support leg and a tripod assembly attached to thebottom of the support leg. In an embodiment of the invention, a portablescreen assembly includes a tripod assembly attached to center supportassembly. In an embodiment of the invention, a portable screen assemblymay include a plurality of support legs and the combination of theplurality of support legs may be attached, at the bottom, to a tripodassembly. The tripod may be utilized in office or home environmentshaving a deep, uneven, or flexible floor covering, such as shag carpet,where it is important for the support feet to dig into the floorsurface. In an embodiment of the invention, a portable projector screenmay include a quadpod attached to the height adjustment mechanism 460.Illustratively, in alternative embodiments of the invention, the quadpodmay be replaced by a mechanism including five, six, seven, eight or ninelegs. In an embodiment of the invention, the portable projector screenmay include a quadpod attached to a single support leg, which isattached to the center support assembly.

FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), and 5(d) illustrate a second embodiment of theportable projector screen assembly according to an embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 5(a) illustrates a front view of the portable projectorscreen assembly 500. The portable projector screen 500 may includes afirst side support 510, a second side support 520, a first support foot530, and a second side support 532. The first side support 510 includesa first indented face portion 545 and a first recessed foot storage area550. The second side support 520 includes a second indented face portion548 and a second recessed foot storage area 560. In the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in FIG. 5(a), a user or consumer may grab orgrip a first indented face portion 545 or a second indented face portion550 in order to open the portable projector screen assembly 500.

The first recessed foot storage area 550 and the second recessed footstorage area 560 allow the first support foot 530 and the second supportfoot 532, respectively, to be next to or close to the first side support510 and the second side support 520. In an embodiment of the invention,the first support foot 530 and the second support foot 532 becomeintegrated with the dimension or housing of the first side support 510and the second side support 520, respectively. The first recessed footstorage area 550 and the second recessed foot storage area 560 arerecessed (at a lower level) from a surface of the first side support 510and the second side support 520. This allows the support feet 530 and532 to be placed inside the recessed area and to minimize the footprintof a closed portable projector screen.

FIG. 5(b) illustrates a back view of the portable projector screen ofthe second embodiment of the invention. The portable projector screen500 includes a back plate assembly 540, a handle 538, a third supportfoot 534 and a fourth support foot 536. The back plate assembly 540includes a recessed handle support 539, a third recessed foot storagearea 551, and a fourth recessed foot storage area 552. The third supportfoot 534 rests inside the third recessed foot storage area 551 and thefourth support foot 536 rests inside the fourth recessed foot storagearea 552. The recessed handle support 539 is at a lower level than asurface than the rest of the back plate assembly 540 to allow a user orconsumer to place a hand or appendage under the handle 538. As comparedto the recessed area on the back plate assembly 440 illustrated in FIG.4(b), the recessed handle support 539 has a smaller footprint.

FIG. 5(c) illustrates a closed or storage mode of a portable projectorscreen according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Thereference numerals are not similar to the reference numerals for FIG.5(a). FIG. 5(c) illustrates how the first support foot 530 and thesecond support foot 532 fit into the recesses in the first side support510 and second side support 520, respectively.

FIG. 5(d) illustrates an open portable projector screen assemblyaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention. The openportable projector screen assembly 565 includes a screen fabric 575, anda screen border 576. The first side support 510 and the second sidesupport 520 each include a recessed portion, which may be referred to asa first screen vertical border 553 and a second screen vertical border554. The support leg(s) 570 operate in a similar fashion to the supportleg(s) 470 illustrated in FIG. 4(d). The support feet 530, 532, 534, and536 operate in a similar fashion to the support feet 430, 432, 434, and436 in FIG. 4(d). The end of each of the support feet 530, 532, 534, 536have an oval or curved shaped rather than a right angle or rectangularshape. In both of the support feet illustrated in FIGS. 4(d) and 5(d),the plurality of support feet may be made of a material that grabs intothe planar surface on which the portable screen assembly rests.Illustratively, a thickness (from top to bottom) of the plurality ofsupport feet 530, 532, 534, and 536 may differ from one end of thesupport feet as compared to the other end. In other words, the free endof each of the plurality of support feet 530, 532, 534, and 536 may bethicker or thinner than the end of the plurality of support feet 530,532, 534, and 536 that is attached to the center support base 580.

FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c) illustrate a third embodiment of a portableprojector screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.The difference between FIGS. 4(a-d) and FIGS. 5(a-d) as compared toFIGS. 6(a-c) is the design of the support feet. FIG. 6(a) illustrates aportable projector screen in a closed position that has a plurality ofsupport legs and a plurality of support feet extended. The portableprojector screen 600 includes a first side support 610, a second sidesupport 620, a center support plate 640, a support leg(s) 670, a centerbase support 680, a first support foot 611, and a second support foot612. When the portable screen assembly 600 is in a closed position, thefirst support foot 611 and the second support foot 612 are in a verticalposition and rest against the first side support 610 and the second sidesupport 620. When the first support foot 611 and the second support foot612 are deployed or extended downward, the feet 611 and 622 resthorizontally on a planar surface. The first support foot 611 and thesecond support foot 612 include a first bottom section 613 and a secondbottom section 614, respectively. The first bottom section 613 and thesecond bottom section 614 rotate from a top section of the first supportfoot 611 and the second support foot 612 and provides additionalfront-to-back stability for the portable projector screen assembly 600.Illustratively, the first bottom section 613 and the second bottomsection 614 of the support feet rotate approximately 90 degrees from thetop portion of the first support foot 611 and the second support foot612, respectively. The bottom sections 613 and 614 may rotate fromapproximately 0-180 degrees.

FIG. 6(b) illustrates a portable projector screen in an open positionwhere the screen is removed according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6(b),the expandable support brace 690 is attached to a first side support 610and a second side support 620. In the embodiment of the invention, theexpandable support brace 690 is also attached to the center supportassembly 640. In one embodiment of the invention, the center supportassembly 640 includes a center support plate 641 and a center supportspine 642. In this embodiment of the invention, the center support spine642 may be attached to a front surface of the center support plate 641.In an embodiment of the invention, the center support assembly 640 maybe one continuous piece of material. In an embodiment of the invention,the center support spine 642and the center support plate (or backplate)641 are separate pieces of material. The expandable support brace 690 isattached to the center support assembly or structure 640. In anembodiment of the invention including a center support spine 642, theexpandable support brace 690 is connected to the center support spine642.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6(b), theexpandable support brace 690 includes a number of braces 691, 692, 693,694, 695, 696, 697, and 698. In other embodiments of the invention, alarger number of braces may be utilize or a smaller number of braces maybe utilized. In the embodiment of the invention, a number of bracesconnected between the first side support 610 and the center supportassembly 640 may be equal to the number of braces connected between thesecond side support 620 and the center support assembly 640. In analternative embodiment of the invention, the number of braces connectedbetween the first side support 610 and the center support assembly 640may be a larger number or a smaller number than the number of bracesattached between the second side support 620 and the center supportassembly 640.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6(b), a firstbrace 691 and a second brace 692 are attached to a first side support610. The first brace 691 and the second brace 692 are attached at amidpoint of each of the braces. The first brace 691 is connected at oneend to an end of a fourth brace 694. The second brace 692 is connectedat one end to an end of the third brace 693. The third brace 693 and thefourth brace 693 are connected at a midpoint. An end of the third brace693 and an end of the fourth brace 694 are connected to an outer surfaceof a center support assembly 640. The same end of the third brace 693that is connected to the center support assembly 640 is also connectedto an end of the sixth brace 696. In the embodiment of the invention,the end of the sixth brace 696 is connected to a surface of the end ofthe third brace 693, which in turn is connected to a surface of thecenter support assembly 640. Likewise, the same end of the fourth brace694 that is connected to a surface of the center support assembly 640 isalso connected to an end of the fifth brace 695. The fifth brace 695 andthe sixth brace 696 are connected at a mid-point of both of the braces.An end of the fifth brace 695 is attached to an end of the seventh brace698. An end of the sixth brace 696 is attached to an end of the eighthbrace 697. The seventh brace 698 and the eighth brace 697 are attachedat a mid-point of each of the braces. An end of the seventh brace 698 isattached to the second side support 620 and an end of the eighth brace697 is attached to the second side support.

In an embodiment of the invention, a spring or a plurality of springsmay be attached between a braces of the expandable support brace 690.For example, the springs may be attached between adjacent braces of theexpandable support brace 690. Illustratively, a spring may be attachedbetween a first brace 691 and a fourth brace 694. Illustratively, aspring may be attached between the junction of the first brace 691 andfourth brace 694, and the junction of the second brace 692 and the thirdbrace 693. The spring may be utilized to maintain adequate tensionbetween the braces in the expandable support brace 690.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6(b), theexpandable or extendable support brace 690 allows the pulling of one ofthe side supports (610 or 620) to result in the deployment of the otherof the side supports (620 or 610). If, as illustrated in FIG. 6(b), thenumber of braces on each side of the center support assembly 640 isequal, then the pulling of one of the first side supports in onedirection for a specific length results in the expanding of the otherside support in an opposite horizontal direction for the same specificlength or approximately the specific length. In other words, there is anequal and opposite reaction of one side support with the other sidesupport. If the number of braces of the extendable support brace 690 isdifferent on one side of the center support assembly as compared to theother side of the center support assembly 640, then the pulling of oneside support may result in a deployment or pushing of the other sidesupport a distance either less or more than the pulling distance of thefirst side support. This may be achieved by the use of a gearingmechanism.

FIG. 6(c) illustrates an opened or deployed portable projector screenincluding the actual screen 675. In an embodiment of the invention, thescreen is attached to the center support assembly 640. The screen 675 isalso attached to the first side support 610 and the second side support620. The screen 675 is attached to tensioned rollers (for example aspring roller). Each of the first side support 610 and the second sidesupport 620 includes a tensioned roller. As one of the side supports 610or 620 is pulled open, the tensioned roller in each of the first sidesupport 610 and 620 allows the screen 675 to unfurl or open. The screenmay unfurl or open off of the tensioned rollers in either a clockwisedirection or a counter clockwise direction. In an embodiment of theinvention, the screen 675 is attached to the center support assembly 640at a top position of the center support assembly 640. In an embodimentof the invention, the screen is attached to the center support assembly640 at both a top position and a bottom position of the center supportassembly 640. The screen may only be attached at a top position becauseattaching a screen at a bottom position on the center support assembly640 may cause the screen to buckle or bend in and decrease theviewability of the lower part of the screen. In an embodiment of theinvention, the screen 675 may be attached to an expandable support brace(not pictured) of the portable screen assembly.

FIG. 7(a) illustrates a top view of a portable projector screen assemblywhen the projector screen is closed according to an embodiment of theinvention. The portable screen assembly 700 includes a first sidesupport 610, a second side support 620, and a center support assembly640. The center support assembly 640 may include a center support backplate 641 and a center support spine 642. The first side support 610encloses a roller 725, e.g., (a tensioned roller) and a first side 715of the screen 675. The second side support 620 includes a roller 720 anda second side 710 of the screen 675. In an embodiment of the invention,the roller 720 and 725 may have a height or length equal to the heightof the first side support 610 or the second side support 620. In anembodiment of the invention, the length of the roller 720 and 725 mayhave a height or length less than the height of the first side support610 or second side support 620. In an embodiment of the invention, thelength or height of the roller 720 and 725 is about the same as theheight of the screen 675. In an embodiment of the invention, the lengthor height of the roller 720 or 725 may be greater than the height of thescreen 675.

In an embodiment of the invention, the tension on the rollers 720 and725 causes the rollers 720 and 725 to unwind in opposite directions. Theconverse is also true in that when the projector screen is moved from anopen position to a closed position, the rollers 720 and 725 wind orrotate in opposite directions to each other. In an embodiment of theinvention, the tension on the rollers 720 and 725 can cause the rollersto unwind in a same direction. For example, a portion 710 of the screenis wound in a clockwise direction around roller 720 and the portion 715of the screen 725 is wound in a counterclockwise direction around roller725. As is illustrated in FIG. 7(a), the center support assembly 640fits into the first side support 610 and the second side support 620. Inan embodiment of the invention, the center support assembly 640 mateswith the first side support 610 and the second side support 620 to forman enclosure that has a rectangular shape with rounded corners.

FIG. 7(b) illustrates a top view of a portable projector screen when thescreen is opened according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7(b)illustrates that only a small portion of the screen 675 is left on therollers 720 and 725. In an embodiment of the invention, a small portionof the screen 675 may still be wrapped around the rollers 720 and 725because the portable projector screen 700 may be fully extended. If theportable projector screen 700 is not fully extended, i.e., may only bedeployed to a first position, a portion of the screen 675 is stillwrapped about or around the rollers 720 and 725. Because the rollers 720and 725 are tensioned rollers, the remaining portions of the screen 726and 727 remain tightly wound about the rollers 720 and 725 until theportable projector screen 675 is opened further or closed. Asillustrated in FIG. 7(b), the screen may be attached to the centralsupport spine 642 of the center support assembly 640.

FIG. 7(c) illustrates a back view of a portable projector screenassembly including an opened screen according to an embodiment of theinvention. A back view shows the expandable support brace 690,(including braces 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, and 698), supportlegs 770, a center support base 780, the center support assembly 640,the first side support 710, and the second side support 720. In anembodiment of the invention, each of the first side support 710 and thesecond side support 720 may include a guide channel 790. An end of oneof the braces (e.g., brace 692 and brace 698) may be attached to theguide channel 790. A fastener (not shown) may be attached to the braceand the fastener may be positioned within the guide channel 790.Although not illustrated in FIG. 7(c), the center support assembly 640may also include a guide channel and brace 693 may attach to the guidechannel on the center support assembly 640. The guide channel 790 keepsthe braces moving in a straight path so that the screen is deployedsmoothly and without buckling. In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 7(c), the guide channel(s) are illustrated as beinglocated on a bottom portion of the first side support 710 and the secondside support 720. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention,the guide channel(s) may be located on a top portion of the first sidesupport 710 and the second side support 720. If the guide channel(s) 790are located on a top portion of the first and second side supports, thena guide channel 790 would also be located on a top portion of centralsupport assembly 640.

FIG. 7(d) illustrates a front view of a height adjustment mechanismaccording to an embodiment of the invention. Although not pictured, theheight adjustment mechanism 750 is either connected to the centersupport assembly 640 or is part of the center support assembly 640.Illustratively, a body 768 is illustrated in FIG. 7(d) and the body 768may either be connected to the center support assembly 640 or the body768 may be part of the center support assembly 640. If the body 768 ispart of the center support assembly 640, other components of the centersupport assembly 640 may reside in the area illustrated by referencenumber 768 in FIG. 7(d). As noted above, the center support assembly 640is connected to the first side support 710 and the second side support720 through the expandable support brace 690. Accordingly, when a partof the height adjustment mechanism 750 is lifted (for example, a handgrip or an indent), or one or both of the side supports are lifted, therest of the portable screen assembly (along with the screen 675) ismoved in order to move the portable screen assembly to the desiredheight.

In an embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 7(d), theheight adjustment mechanism 750 may include a plurality of springs 761,a plurality of clamp bars 762, a clamp bar locking mechanism 765, a body768, and a release lever 763. FIG. 7(e) illustrates a side view of aheight adjustment mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.In an embodiment of the invention, the height adjustment mechanism 750may also include a upward adjustment assembly 764, (e.g., a hand grip).The clamp bar locking mechanism 765 may include a shaft or rod 766 and aclamp containment plate 767, where the shaft or rod 766 connects theclamp containment plate 767 to the release lever 763. A lever spring 794connects one end of the release lever 763 to the body 768. In anembodiment of the invention, the upward adjustment assembly 764 may beconnected to the body 768 of the height adjustment mechanism 750 on afront surface of the body 768 and/or a bottom surface of the body 768 ofthe height adjustment mechanism 750. In an embodiment of the invention,a hand grip may not protrude forward, as is shown in FIG. 7(e), and maybe tucked beneath the body 768 of the height adjustment mechanism 750,or alternatively, the center support assembly 640 (see FIG. 6(a)). Also,as mentioned above, there may be no upward adjustment assembly because aconsumer may grasp one or both of the side supports 710 and 720 in orderto raise the portable screen assembly.

The body 768 of the height adjustment mechanism is constructed with twocylindrical or circular holes 793, which allow the height adjustmentmechanism to be placed onto the support legs 771 and 772 and to move upand down the support legs 771 and 772 when the portable screen assemblyis being pulled upward or released downward. FIG. 7(f) illustrates a topview of the height adjustment mechanism including circular holes 793according to an embodiment of the invention. The clamp bars 762 alsoinclude cylindrical or circular holes in order for the clamp bars 762 tomove upward and downward about the support legs 771 and 772.

The springs 761 are fastened to the body 768 of the height adjustmentmechanism. The springs 761 are also attached to the clamp bars 762 at afirst end of the clamp bars 762 and push the clamp bars 762 upward (theyare biased upward). The first end of the clamp bars 762 are held inplace by clamp bar brackets 769. In an embodiment of the invention, theclamp bar brackets 769 are fastened or adhered to the body 768 of theheight adjustment mechanism 750. A second end of the clamp bars 762 isheld in place by a clamp bar locking mechanism 765. A shaft or rod 766connects the clamp containment plate 767 to the release lever 763. Inthis embodiment of the invention, the diameter of cylindrical orcircular holes in the clamp bars 762 are slightly larger than thediameter of the support legs 771 and 772.

In an embodiment of the invention, the portable screen assembly is movedupward by grasping one of the side supports (or both), or alternatively,the upward adjustment assembly 764. The side support(s) (or upwardadjustment assembly 764) is then moved in the upward vertical direction.In an embodiment of the invention, as the portable screen assembly ismoved upward, the clamp bars 762 may angle downward from a position suchas the position of the clamp bars 762 illustrated in FIG. 7(d). Theposition of the clamp bars 762 illustrated in FIG. 7(d) is the initialposition of the clamp bars 762. As illustrated in FIG. 7(d), the clampbars 762 are slightly raised as compared to a top surface of the body768. In other words, during opening or deploying of the portable screenassembly, the clamp bars 762 are at an angle from the top surface of thebody 768. Although the diameter of the circular or cylindrical holes inthe clamp bars 762 is not physically decreasing, the angle of the clampbars 762 results in a smaller effective diameter for the circular orcylindrical holes in the clamp bars 762 in which the support legs 771and 772 can move. Movement in the upward vertical direction is notceased by this smaller effective diameter, although there is frictionbetween the holes in the clamp bars 762 and the support legs 771 and772.

When the height adjustment mechanism 750 reaches the selected height,the consumer does not continue to pull the side support(s) (or theupward adjustment assembly 764) in an upward vertical direction. Theheight adjustment mechanism 750 (and thus the portable screen assembly)remains at the selected height because the cylindrical or circular holesin the clamp bars 762 engage the support legs 771 and 772, which resultsin the portable screen assembly not sliding down the support legs 771and 772. This is caused because the clamp bars are resting at an upwardangle from the top surface of the body 768 and thus the effectivediameter of the cylindrical or circular holes is smaller and pressesagainst the support legs 771 and 772.

In order to move the portable screen assembly to a closed position (andreturn the height adjustment mechanism 750 next to the center supportbase 780), the release lever 763 is depressed or pressed downward. Whenthe lever 763 is pressed downward, the shaft or rod 766 connecting therelease lever 763 and the clamp bar containment plate 767 move the clampbars 762 downward, which releases the height adjustment mechanism 750from a clamped position. When the height adjustment mechanism has moveddownward to a closed position (e.g., next to the center support base780), the clamp bars 762 are in a parallel plane with the top surface ofthe body 768 of the height adjustment mechanism 750. Illustratively, theclamp bars 762 may rest horizontally on the top surface of the body 768of the height adjustment mechanism 750. This may be referred to as theunclamped position. The movement of the clamp bars 762 to the horizontalposition results in a maximum effective diameter of the cylindrical orcircular holes in the clamp bars 762. This results in the support legs771 and 772 being able to move freely in a vertical direction down thesupport legs 771 and 772.

In an embodiment of the invention, the release lever 763 may include alock assembly to ensure the release lever does not move in a verticaldownward or upward direction during deployment of the portable screenassembly. When the release lever 763 is released, the clamp bars 762return to the initial position, as illustrated in FIG. 7(d), due to theupward pressure exerted on the clamp bars 762 by the springs 761.

FIG. 7(g) illustrates a height adjustment mechanism for a portableprojector screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.The height adjustment mechanism includes a first bushing 751 and asecond bushing 752. The first bushing 751 includes an adjustment knob753 or a plurality of adjustment knobs. The adjustment knob 753 mayadjust a width of cylindrical leg support holes 754. Alternatively, theadjustment knob 753 may be attached to a screw or a rod that is pushedinto the support leg 750 in order to hold the support leg in place. Thecenter support legs 750 are also attached to the center support base780. In an embodiment of the invention, when the support leg(s) 750 havenot been deployed, or dropped, or extended downward, the center supportbrace 780 moves and rests against a bottom surface of the second bushing752. In order for this to occur, the adjustment knob(s) are loosened,which allows the support leg(s) to move in an upward direction. Once thesupport legs move to a position where the center support base 780touches the second bushing 752, the adjustment knobs are tightened inorder to lock the support leg(s) into place in order to close or movethe portable projection screen. The center support leg(s) 750 aredeployed in a similar fashion. Illustratively, the adjustment knob(s)753 are loosened which allows the center support leg(s) 750 to drop orextend downward to a desired height. In an embodiment of the invention,the adjustment knob(s) are loosened and the height adjustment mechanism(along with the central support assembly, the first side support, andthe second side support) are raised up. Once the desired height isreached, the adjustment knob(s) 753 are tightened.

FIGS. 8(a-c) illustrate an extendable support brace in a closedposition, a first position, and a second position. FIG. 8(a) illustratean extendable support brace in a closed position. In FIG. 8(a), a bottomend of a plurality of braces (e.g., two braces) and a junction of twobraces are in a first position 810, where the first position 810 is at abottom end of the guide channel 790. In an embodiment of the inventionwhere the guide channel is located at a top portion of the side supports710, 720 and the center support assembly 740, the plurality of braceswould be in a position at a top end of the guide channel 790.

FIG. 8(b) illustrates an extendable support brace opened to a first sizeor a first position according to an embodiment of the present invention.Each of the braces of the extendable or expandable support brace arespaced apart from each other. In addition, a bottom end of the pluralityof braces are located in a second position 820 in the guide channel 790.For example, this first position may be referred to as the 4:3 aspectratio format position. Illustratively, the screen at this secondposition may have a diagonal length of 60 inches.

FIG. 8(c) illustrates an extendable support brace opened to a secondsize or a second position according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. When the portable screen assembly is in a second position,the braces of the expandable or extendable support brace are spacedapart even further from each other. The bottom end of the plurality ofbraces are located in a third position 830 in the guide channel 790. Thethird position 830 may be close to or at the top part of the guidechannel 790. Although the guide channel is illustrated in FIGS. 8 (a-c)as being in a bottom portion of the first side support 710, the secondside support 720, and the center support assembly 740, in an embodimentof the invention, the guide channel 790 may be located at a top portionof the first side support 710, the second side support 720, and thecentral support assembly or structure 740.

FIG. 9(a) illustrates a front view of a portable screen assembly havingan automatic deployment mechanism where the screen has been removedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The portableprojector screen assembly 900 of FIG. 9(a) includes a first side support910, a second side support 920, and a center support assembly 640. Theportable screen assembly 900 includes the expandable support brace 990,which may include a plurality of braces (e.g., braces 991, 992, 993,994, 995, 996, 997, and 998). In an embodiment of the invention, theportable projector screen assembly includes an automatic deploymentmechanism 929, such as a motor, gear, and shaft combination. Theautomatic deployment mechanism 929 may be driven by AC power (e.g., froma wall outlet or generator) or by DC power (e.g., from a battery oranother DC power source). In the embodiment of the invention illustratedin FIG. 9(a), the automatic deployment mechanism 929 is connected to theexpandable support brace 990 by a nut or a fastener. In an embodiment ofthe invention, the automatic deployment mechanism 929 is connected to ajunction of the end of two braces. As illustrated in FIG. 9(a), thejunction may be a junction where the end of the third brace 993 meets anend of the sixth brace 996.

A button or switch 934 may activate the automatic deployment mechanism929 for the portable screen assembly 900. The button 934 may be locatedon an outside surface of a front portion of the center support assembly640. The button 934 may cause the automatic deployment mechanism 929 toexpand the expandable support brace 990 and therefore open the portablescreen assembly 900. FIG. 9(b) illustrates a side cross-section view ofthe automatic deployment mechanism and FIG. 9(c) illustrates theautomatic deployment mechanism. In an embodiment of the invention, theautomatic deployment mechanism includes a motor 930, a driving assembly933, a worm gear 931, and a fastener 932. The button or switch 934activates or turns on the motor 930. The motor 930 drives the drivingassembly 933 which may include a shaft and a driving gear. The drivinggear of the driving assembly 933 engages the worm gear 931. The wormgear 931 includes an engaging gear, which mates or meshes with thedriving gear, and this results in a shaft of the worm gear 931 rotatingin a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion. In an embodiment of theinvention, the rotation of the shaft of the worm gear 931 drives thefastener or nut 932 either upward (to open the portable projector screenassembly 900) or downward (to close the portable projector screenassembly) or vice versa. As discussed in other embodiments of theinvention, a plurality of braces rest within guide channels 790 whichdirect the vertical movement of the plurality of braces and make surethe ends of the plurality of braces do not move in any direction (e.g.,side-to-side) besides moving in a vertical up or down direction. In anembodiment of the invention, the guide channel 790 may minimize movementin a side-to-side direction.

In an embodiment of the invention including the automatic deploymentmechanism 929, the center support assembly 640 may also include awireless receiver (not shown). The wireless receiver may be coupled to amotor activation circuit (not shown) which is connected to the motor 930and turns on the motor 930. The wireless receiver and the motor 930 maybe included on a single integrated chip inside the center supportassembly 640. The wireless receiver may receive a signal from a remotecontrol. The remote control may communicate with the wirelesscommunication protocols, e.g., 802.11 wireless protocols, Bluetoothprotocol, or a proprietary wireless protocol. In an embodiment of theinvention, any device operating using a wireless communication protocolmay be utilized as a remote control for the portable screen assembly900. For example, a cellular telephone, a stereo or television remotecontrol, a personal digital assistant, a Blackberry may be utilized toactivate the motor 930 via the wireless receiver in the portable screenassembly.

In an embodiment of the invention, the portable screen assembly mayinclude one speaker or a plurality of speakers. In an embodiment of theinvention, one end of speaker wire may be attached to the speaker or theplurality of speakers. The other end of the speaker wire may be attachedto an audio transmission device such as, for example, radio receiver, anaudio receiver, an audio/visual receiver, an iPOD™, or a personalcomputer. In an embodiment of the invention, a wireless sound receivermay be installed in proximity to the one speaker or the plurality ofspeakers. The wireless sound receiver may receive music from a musicsource, such as an audio/visual receiver or receiver, that transmitsmusic utilizing wireless communication protocols to the wirelessreceiver in the portable projector screen. In an embodiment of theinvention, an amplifier may be connected between the wireless receiverand the speaker or the plurality of speakers in order to strengthen thevolume or quality of the music received from the A/V receivertransmitter. In an embodiment of the invention, an amplifier may includea docking section which allows a portable music player to be connected,such as an iPOD™, to be docked in the amplifier docking section. In thisembodiment, the amplifier receives the music from the portable musicplayer and transmits the music to the speakers. In an alternativeembodiment, the amplifier may be connected to a portable music playervia a cable. In an alternative embodiment, the amplifier may receive themusic wirelessly from the portable music player.

Utilizing a back view of the portable screen assembly such as the viewof FIG. 7(c), the speaker or the plurality of speakers, may be installedon a top portion of the center support assembly 640, such as a locationillustrated by reference number 785. In an embodiment of the invention,a speaker may also be installed at a bottom portion of the centersupport structure 640. A speaker may also be installed on one of theside support assemblies 710, 720. Two potential locations for thespeakers on the side support assemblies are illustrated by referencenumerals 786 and 787. The location of the speaker(s) on the portableprojector screen may depend on the dimension of the speaker(s), theweight of the center support assembly 640 (and/or the weight of the sidesupports 710, 720). For example, the speaker(s) could include a clipwhich is attached to the back of the speaker, and the clip may be placedover a top edge of either the center support assembly 640 or the sidesupport assemblies 710 or 720. If the speaker(s) is heavy, locating thespeaker(s) higher in the portable screen assembly 700 may reduce thestability of the portable projector assembly, specifically thefront-to-back stability. In an embodiment of the invention, the speakermay be integrated into the structure of the first side support 710, thesecond side support 720, or the center support structure 640.

Components of the portable screen assembly may be made of a variety ofmaterials. For example, the portable screen assembly may be made of avariety of metals or some of the components may be made of plastic. Inan embodiment of the invention, the side support assemblies 710 and 720and the center support assembly 640 may be made of steel. In anembodiment of the invention, the side support assemblies 710 and 720 andthe center support assembly 640 may be made by extrusion of a metal. Inan embodiment of the invention, the first side support 710, the secondside support 720, and the center support assembly 640 may be made ofaluminum rather than steel due to weight (and hence carryabilityconcerns). In an embodiment of the invention, some of the framecomponents may be made of steel and some may be made of aluminum. In anembodiment of the present invention, the side support assemblies and thecenter support assembly are made by stamping of a metal. In anembodiment of the invention, the expandable support brace 690 may bemade of aluminum or injected molded plastic. In an embodiment of theinvention, the support legs 770 may be made of aluminum. In anembodiment of the invention, the feet or plurality of support feet 430,432, 434, 436 may be made of one of a combination of rubber, a plastic,aluminum, or steel.

In an embodiment of the invention, the portable screen assembly may bemounted on a wall, like a plasma television. In this embodiment of theinvention, the portable screen assembly may include the center supportassembly 640, the side supports 610, 620, the expandable support brace690, and the screen 675, such as illustrated in FIG. 6(c). In anembodiment of the invention, the portable screen assembly may be madeinto a wall mount unit, by removing the support leg(s) and the supportfeet(s) from the center support assembly 640. In an embodiment of theinvention, the portable screen assembly may be manufactured or assembledas a wall mount unit and thus a center support assembly 640 may notinclude some or all of the support leg(s), the support feet, and theheight adjustment mechanism. In an embodiment of the invention, a backsurface of at least one of the center support assembly 640, the firstside support 610, and the second side support 620 may include a hole oropening to allow the portable screen assembly to be placed on a screw,hook, or nail installed into a wall, vertical hanging surface, orvertical planar surface. In an embodiment of the invention, a backsurface of at least one of the center support assembly 640, the firstside support 610, and the second side support 620 may include hooks andwire where the wire is attached to each of the hooks to allow theportable projector assembly to be attached to the wall. In an embodimentof the invention, at least one of the first side support, the secondside support and the center support assembly may include a mountingbracket to allow the portable screen assembly to be mounted on a wall orvertical planar surface. In an embodiment of the invention, one or moreof the center support assembly 640, the first side support 610, and thesecond side support 620 include a Velcro material or an adhesivematerial. If Velcro is utilized, an opposing Velcro material may have tobe installed onto the surface where the portable projector screen is tobe installed. If an adhesive material is used, the portable screenassembly is adhered to the wall by the adhesive material.

The portable screen assembly may be made of a number of materials. Theprojector screen may be made of a white or light fabric that allows goodreflection of light and also that allows an image to be projected ontothe fabric so that users or consumers can clearly see the image. Thescreen may be made of a fiberglass-backed PVC material, a mylar, avinyl, or a natural fiber, e.g., cotton. The projector screen may be anytype of screen normal utilized in pull-down projector screens or,alternatively, movie screens. A main characteristic is that theprojector screen should be relatively smooth or seamless so that linesor bumps in the fabric do not detract from the image quality of theimage being projected onto the screen. The screen may also have a highdegree to elasticity to enable the screen to roll up on the rollerswithout creating folds or creases.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of opening a portable screen assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5,and 6. In an embodiment of the invention, the portable screen assemblydoes not include center support legs. In this embodiment of theinvention, the portable screen assembly may be placed on a horizontalplanar surface, e.g., a table, a countertop, a shelf of an entertainmentsystem, and a support foot or a plurality of support feet may bedeployed 1000 for stability of the portable screen assembly. This may bedesirable in applications where the portable projector screen rests on adesktop or a table top in a conference room. A presenter may bepresenting to a number of individuals located around a conference tableand the portable screen assembly may be located on one end of the table.In an embodiment of the invention, the portable screen assembly may bemounted 1005 on a wall. In other words, the portable screen assembly ismounted on a vertical planar surface. In an embodiment of the inventionincluding a center support leg or a plurality of center support legs, acenter support foot or a plurality of center support feet may bedeployed 1010 from a resting or storage position. For example, aportable screen assembly may include two support feet which rest in avertical position against a center support assembly. In another example,a portable projector screen may include four support feet, where two ofthe support feet rest against a first side support and the other twofeet rest against a second side support. When the support feet are in astorage position, the support feet are in a vertical position (e.g.,upward), and when the support feet are in a deployed position, thesupport feet are rotated (or extended) to a horizontal position. Thesupport feet may be deployed approximately 90 degrees.

After the feet are deployed, a center support leg or a plurality ofcenter support legs are extended 1020 from a center support assembly. Inan embodiment of the invention, the center support leg or plurality ofcenter support legs may drop down from a center support assembly as thecenter support assembly is raised. In an embodiment of the invention,the center support assembly may be raised by grasping the heightadjustment mechanism and pulling the height adjustment mechanism or,alternatively, the first side support and/or the second side support, ina vertical upward direction, as is shown in FIGS. 7(d) and 7(e). Theclamp bars (see FIGS. 7 (d-f)) are in a clamped position as is describedabove, which enables the portable screen assembly to move up to aselected height and to maintain the selected height to which theportable screen assembly is raised. In this embodiment of the invention,in order to decrease the height of the portable screen assembly, arelease lever is activated, which allows the height adjustment mechanism(or alternatively the side support(s)) to move to a closed or storageposition. The lever pushes the clamp bars down to rest on the uppersurface of the body of the height adjustment mechanism or center supportassembly. By positioning the clamp bars in such a manner, the portablescreen assembly can move downward because the clamp bars easily movedown the support legs in this position because the largest effectivediameter of the holes in the clamp bars occurs. In an alternativeembodiment of the invention, after a height is selected, or the fullheight of the portable screen assembly is reached, a knob or otherfastening mechanism may be engaged to maintain or “lock” the height ofthe portable projector screen.

A first side support the screen assembly is grasped or held 1030. Thefirst side support may be the left side support or alternatively, may bethe right side support. The first side support may be pulled 1040 in afirst horizontal direction to a first position. The pulling of the firstside support in a first horizontal direction results in the second sidesupport be pushed open in a second horizontal direction to a firstposition. The expandable support brace causes the second side support tomove in an opposite direction to the first side support. In anembodiment of the invention, the second side support is pushed open anequal and opposite distance from a center of the portable projectorscreen as the distance from the center of the portable projector screenthat the first side support is pulled. In an alternative embodiment ofthe invention, the second side support may be pushed open a smallerdistance from the center of the portable projector screen than thedistance that the first side support is pulled. In an alternativeembodiment of the invention, the second side support may be pushed opena larger distance from the center of the portable projector screen thanthe distance that the first side support is pulled. The reactive pushingof the second side support is dependent on the structure of theexpandable support brace, e.g., how many braces are on each side of thecenter support assembly.

After the portable screen assembly has been opened to the firstposition, the first side support may be pulled 1050 in the firsthorizontal direction to a second position. Under other operatingconditions, the second position may be any width greater than that ofthe first position. The pulling of the first side support results in thepushing or opening of the second side support to a second position. Inan embodiment of the invention,-the pulling of the first side supportresults in an equal and opposite (in terms of distance) pushing of thesecond side support. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, thepulling of the second side support results in an opposite pushing of thesecond side support, but the distance that the second side support ispushed may be less than or greater than the distance that the first sidesupport was pulled.

Under other operating conditions, rather than pulling the first sidesupport to move to a second side position, the second side support maybe grasped or grabbed and the second side support may be pulled 1060 inthe second horizontal direction to a second position for the second sidesupport. The pulling of the second side support results in the pushingor opening of the first side support to the second position (viamovement in the opposite first horizontal direction). In an embodimentof the invention, the pulling of the second side support results in anequal and opposite distance pushing of the first side support.Alternatively, the distance that the first side support is pushed may beless than or greater than the distance that the second side support ispulled. In other words, after the first side support is pulled to afirst position, a user of the portable projector screen may decide topull either the first side support or the second side support to deploythe portable projector screen to a second position.

FIG. 11 illustrates a portable screen assembly including a gear andchain assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. The portablescreen assembly 1100 includes a first side support 1110, a second sidesupport 1120, an expandable support brace 1190, and a center supportassembly 1140. A gear and chain assembly 1161 is attached to a backsurface of the center support assembly 1140. In an embodiment of theinvention, a first gear 1162 is connected to a top section of the centersupport assembly 1140. In an embodiment of the invention, a second gear1163 is connected to a bottom portion of the center support assembly1140. A fastener 1164 is installed in a guide channel 1165 of the centersupport assembly 640. The fastener 1164 is attached to the expandablesupport brace 1190. A chain 1167 is connected to and surrounds the firstgear 1162 and the second gear 1163. A handle or crank 1166 is attachedto a front surface of a bottom section of the center support assembly1140. A shaft (not shown) connects the handle or crank 1166 to thesecond gear 1162. The handle or crank is moved to a first position(e.g., moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position) whichresults in the second gear engaging the chain 1167, which rotates thefirst gear 1162. The rotation of the first gear 1162 results in anexpanding or extension of the expandable support brace 1190 to a firstdeployment position. The second gear's attachment to the expandablesupport brace 1190 allows the rotation of the second gear 1163 to moveor expand the expandable support brace 1190. In an embodiment of theinvention, the first gear 1162 and the second gear 1163 are fixed to thecenter support assembly 1140. The fastener 1164 is able to move in avertical direction in the guide channel 1165. The movement of the handleor crank 1166 to a second position, e.g., from a horizontal position toa vertical position, results in the engagement of the second gear 1163,which in turn engages the first gear 1162 through the chain 1167. Theengagement of the second gear 1163 drives the chain 1167, which rotatesthe first gear 1162 and moves the fastener 1164 and the expandablesupport brace to a second position in the guide channel 1165.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the portable screen assembly in aclosed position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theportable projector screen 1200 includes a first side support 1210, asecond side support 1220, an adjustment knob 1225, and a guide channel1227. In an embodiment of the invention, the adjustment knob 1225 andthe guide channel 1227 are part of the first side support. In anembodiment of the invention, the adjustment knob 1225 and the guidechannel 1227 are part of the second side support 1220. In FIG. 12, theadjustment knob 1225 and the guide channel 1227 are located on the topportion of an outside surface of the first side support 1210 orconversely, an outside surface of the second side support 1220. Theportable screen assembly 1200 is deployed by grasping or grabbing theadjustment knob 1225 and pulling the adjustment knob 1225 downward, asillustrated in FIG. 12, through the guide channel 1227. As the portablescreen assembly 1200 is opened, the second side support 1220 moves apartfrom the first side support 1210.

FIG. 13 illustrates a front view of an opened portable screen assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The portable screenassembly includes a first side support 1310, a second side support 1320,a screen 1375, a first support leg 1330, and a second side support 1340.In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 13, theadjustment knob 1325 is located in a second detent position 1313, whichis the position where the portable screen assembly 1300 is fully openedor fully deployed. FIG. 13 also illustrates a first detent position1311, which is the first position. In an embodiment of the invention,the first position illustratively is a 4:3 aspect ratio. The guidechannel 1327 is the path that the adjustment knob 1325 travels whenmoving from the initial position to a first detent position 1311 andthen the second detent position 1313.

Each of the first support leg 1330 and the second support leg 1340includes a respective stabilizing foot 1332 and 1342 . The stabilizingfeet 1332 and 1342 may originally be resting vertically against thesupport leg. In order to provide additional front-to-back stability forthe portable projector screen, the stabilizing feet 1332 and 1342 aredeployed in order to rest horizontally on a planar surface, such as thefloor. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 13, threestabilization feet 1332 and 1342 are deployed for each of the supportlegs 1330 and 1340. One of the support feet is deployed 90 degrees fromthe other two support feet and the other two support feet are deployed180 degrees from each other. In order to assist the user or consumer inopening the portable projector screen 1300, each of the support legs1330 and 1340 may include a wheel 1345. In an embodiment of theinvention, only the support leg 1340 connected to the second sidesupport 1320, which does not include the adjustment knob 1325, includesa wheel 1345. In this embodiment of the invention, the first support leg1330 does not move and a user or consumer can actually step on thesupport feet 1332 in order to stop the first support leg 1330 and hencethe first side support 1310 from moving when the adjustment knob 1325deploys the portable screen assembly to a first position. In anembodiment of the invention, the support legs 1330 and 1340 may behollow and include a channel in which the wheel 1345 rests. In anembodiment of the invention, the wheel 1345 may have two positions. Thewheel 1345 may have a rolling or down position in which the wheel rollson the floor, for example, when the portable projector screen is beingopened. In a second or up position, the wheel moves up from the downposition and locks into place so that the support feet or plurality ofsupport feet 1332 rest on the floor and the wheel 1345 does not rest onthe floor because it is positioned slightly above the floor in the upposition.

FIG. 14 illustrates a back view of a portable screen assembly accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. The portable screen assemblyof FIG. 14 includes an expandable support brace 1490, a first sidesupport 1410, a second side support 1420, a screen 1475, and a centersupport brace 1470. In an embodiment of the invention, the centersupport brace 1470 is attached to the screen 1475 at one position, e.g.,at the top of the screen 1475. In an embodiment of the invention, thecenter support brace 1470 is attached to the screen 1475 at twopositions, e.g., at the top of the screen and the bottom of the screen1475. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 14, theexpandable support brace 1490 is attached to the center support brace1470, the first side support 1410, and the second side support 1420. Theexpandable support brace 1490 is also attached to the knob 1425 at oneend of the expandable support brace 1490. In an embodiment of theinvention, one end of one brace of the expandable support brace 1490 isattached to the adjustment knob 1425. As illustrated in FIG. 14, thecenter support brace 1470 includes a channel 1460 and the expandablesupport brace is connected to the center support brace 1470 at thechannel 1460 which allows the expandable support brace 1490 to move (andthus expand or open). Although not pictured, the first side support 1410and the second side support 1420 each include a channel which allow abrace of the expandable support brace 1490 to move either up or down.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method of opening a portable screen assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS.12-14. In this embodiment of the invention, a support leg or theplurality of support legs may be unlatched or unlocked and the supportleg or the plurality of support legs are extended 1510 or deployed sothat a bottom part or section of the support leg or plurality of supportlegs rest on a planar surface, e.g., such as a table, a floor, pavement,or a ground surface. In this embodiment of the invention, the supportlegs may drop from the first side support and the second side support.In an embodiment of the invention, a single support foot is deployed1520 for the first side support leg to provide front-to-back stabilityas well as support for opening the portable screen assembly. In anembodiment of the invention, a plurality of support feet, e.g., twosupport feet or three support feet, are moved from resting against thefirst support leg to resting on a planar surface. The plurality ofsupport feet provide additional front-to-back stability for the portableprojector screen.

In an embodiment of the invention, a knob is grasped 1530 on a firstside of the first side support. In an embodiment of the invention, aguide channel is locate on a top section of the first side of the firstside support and the knob is connected to the expandable support bracethrough the guide channel. In an embodiment of the invention, a user orconsumer moves 1540 the knob in a downward direction to a first detentposition. The knob travels through the guide channel to the first detentposition. In this embodiment of the invention, the movement of the knobin the downward vertical position results in a second side supportpushing away from the first side support and a center support brace to afirst position. As a result of the movement of the knob to the firstposition, the second side support moves away from its original position(and also away from the center support brace) to a first position. Inthis embodiment of the invention, the first side support does not move.In this embodiment, the support feet for the first side support assistin keeping the first side support and the first support leg from moving.In an embodiment of the invention, a user or consumer moves 1550 theknob in a downward direction from the first detent position to thesecond detent position. This results in the second side support pushingaway from the center support brace (and thus the first side support) toa second position. The second side support is pushed away in a firsthorizontal direction. The second side support is pushing away from thecenter support brace and first side support in a first horizontaldirection. The support foot or the support feet are deployed 1560 forthe second support leg once the user or consumer has selected a finalwidth or dimension.

FIG. 16 illustrates a portable screen assembly with a center sidesupport and two side supports according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The portable projector screen 1600 includes a first sidesupport 1610, a second side support 1620, a screen 1675, and a centersupport assembly 1640. The screen 1675 is attached to rollers in thefirst side support 1610 and the second side support 1620. The screen1675 is also attached to the center support assembly 1640. In anembodiment of the invention, a support leg 1630 extends from the centersupport assembly 1640. The center support leg 1630 may drop from thecenter support assembly 1640 to a desired height. A height adjustmentmechanism or adjustment knob such as described above may also beutilized to adjust the center support leg 1630 to the desired height. Inan embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 16, two support legs1630 may extend from the center support assembly 1640. The centersupport leg or the plurality of center support legs 1630 extend andconnect to a center stabilization plate 1625. The center stabilizingplate 1625 includes a stabilizing flap 1626 or a plurality ofstabilizing flaps 1626. After the center stabilizing plate 1625 isplaced on the floor or a planar surface, the stabilizing flap orplurality of stabilizing flaps 1626 are extended from a verticalposition to a horizontal position to rest on top of a floor or flatsurface. The stabilizing flap or plurality of stabilizing flaps 1626provides additional front-to-back stability for the portable projectorscreen. In an embodiment of the invention, the center stabilizing plate1625 (legs and flaps) are deployed before the first side support leg1615 and the second side support leg 1617. The first side support leg1615 and the second side support leg 1617 are deployed in a downwardfashion from the first side support 1610 and the second side support1620, respectively. In an embodiment of the invention, a plurality ofsupport feet 1651 are deployed from a vertical position against thefirst support leg 1615 (or support feet 1652 are deployed from thesecond support leg 1617). After the first support leg 1615 and thesecond support leg 1617, along with the center support legs 1630, havebeen extended, the first side support 1610, or alternatively, the secondside support 1620 is moved to a selected position, which deploys to theportable screen assembly to the selected width. In an embodiment of theinvention, the portable screen assembly 1600 may be placed on a planarsurface and may be raised to a desired height while letting the centersupport leg extend downward from the center support assembly 1630.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the first side supportleg 20 1615 and the second support leg 1617 may not be deployed untilthe first side support 1610 and thus the second side support 1620 havebeen moved to a deployed position. In other words, a consumer may onlydeploy the center support feet 1630, the center stabilizing plate 1625,and the center stabilizing feet 1626, and then may pull on either afirst side support 1610 (or a second side support 1620) to deploy theportable screen assembly 1600 to a desired position. Once the desiredposition is reached, the consumer may then deploy the first support leg1615 and the second support leg 1617 (and the respective support feet1651 and 1652).

FIG. 18 illustrates a portable projector screen in a closed positionaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodimentof the invention illustrated in FIG. 18, the center stabilizing flap(s)1626 fold up in front of the first side support 1610 and the second sidesupport 1620 to allow for easy carrying of the portable projectorscreen.

FIG. 17 illustrates a back view of an opened portable screen assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment of theinvention, a first side support 1610 is grasped to move the portableprojector screen 1600 to a first position. In an embodiment of theinvention, the expandable support brace 1690 moves the second sidesupport 1620 in an opposite horizontal direction to the pulling of thefirst side support 1610. In an embodiment of the invention, the distancemoved by the pulling of the first side support 1610 is equal andopposite to the distance moved by the second side support. After theportable screen assembly has been moved to the first position, a user orconsumer can pull the portable screen assembly 1600 to a second positionby pulling either of the first side support 1610 or the second sidesupport 1620. The pulling of the first side support 1610 or the secondside support 1620 to the second position results in the other sidesupport (i.e., the second side support 1620 or the first side support1610) being pushed or opened in the opposite horizontal direction. Inthe embodiment of the invention, the expandable support brace 1690 isconnected to the first side support 1610, the second side support 1620,and the center support assembly 1640. In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 17, the screen 1675 of the portable projector screen1600 is attached to rollers in the first side support 1610 and thesecond side support 1620 and also to the center support assembly 1640.In an embodiment of the invention, the screen 1675 is attached at oneposition to the center support assembly 1640. In an embodiment of theinvention, the screen 1675 is attached at two positions to the centersupport assembly 1640.

FIG. 19 illustrates a method of opening a portable screen assemblyillustrate in FIG. 16 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment of the invention, the portable screenassembly is placed 2000 on a planar surface in its closed mode. In anembodiment of the invention, a stabilizing flap or two stabilizationflaps are extended or moved 2010 from resting against the plurality ofsupport legs to a position where the stabilization flaps rest on theplanar surface. After the portable screen assembly is placed on a planarsurface, a center stabilization support is deployed 2020 to an extendedposition. In an embodiment of the invention, a consumer may pull up on acenter support assembly to separate the center support assembly from thecenter stabilization support so that the center stabilization supportrests on a planar surface. In an extended position, the centerstabilization support rests on a planar surface such as ground, a table,or the floor. In an embodiment of the invention, the centerstabilization support includes a stabilization base and a plurality ofsupport legs.

A first side support leg and a second side support leg are moved 2030 toa first position, which, for example, may be a fully extended position.How much the first side support leg and the second side support leg aremoved depends on the desired height of the portable projector screen. Inan embodiment of the invention, the first side support leg and thesecond side support leg are locked into the first position. The firstside support is pulled 2040 in a first horizontal direction to a firstposition. This results in the movement of the second side support to itsown first position. The movement of the second side support is in asecond horizontal direction, which is opposite to the first horizontaldirection. The movement of the second side support when the first sidesupport is pulled is a result of the expandable support brace.

In an embodiment of the invention, a user or consumer pulls 2050 a firstside support in the first horizontal direction to move the first sidesupport to a second position. This results in the movement of the secondside support in the second horizontal direction to a second position. Inan alternative embodiment of the invention, the user or consumer canpull 2060 the second side support in a second horizontal direction tomove the second side support to the second position. This results in themovement of the first side support in the opposite first direction tothe second position for the first side support. In other words, once theportable projector screen is moved to a first position, either the firstside support or the second side support can be pulled to move theportable projector screen to the second position.

While embodiments of the present invention described above involveconnection to the medical data management system 16, through theInternet, other embodiments may employ other suitable wide areanetworks. In yet other embodiments involving more limited distributiongroups, local area networks may be employed.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Itis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is intended that thescope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, butrather by the claims appended hereto.

1. A portable screen assembly, comprising: a first side screen supportconnected to a fabric; a second side screen support connected to thefabric; a center support assembly; and an expandable support brace, theexpandable support brace connected to the center support assembly, thefirst side screen support, and the second side screen support.
 2. Theportable screen assembly of claim 1, further including a heightadjustment mechanism to allow the portable screen assembly to bedeployed at a certain height on a planar surface.
 3. The portable screenassembly of claim 1, further including support feet to allow theportable screen assembly to rest on a planar surface.
 4. The portableprojector screen assembly of claim 1, wherein the center supportassembly includes a center support leg.
 5. The portable projector screenassembly of claim 1, wherein the center support assembly includes aplurality of center support legs.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, whereinfour braces of the expandable support brace are connected to the centersupport assembly.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein two braces of theexpandable support brace are connected to the first side screen supportand two braces of the expandable support brace are connected to thesecond side screen support.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein theexpandable support brace expands in a first horizontal direction andalso in a second horizontal direction from the center support assembly,and the first horizontal direction is opposite to the second horizontaldirection.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the expansion in thefirst horizontal direction results in an equal and opposite expansion inthe second horizontal direction.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, whereineach of the first side screen support and the second side screen supportincludes a roller and the fabric is connected to the roller.
 11. Theassembly of claim 10, wherein the fabric is wound around the roller ineach of the first side screen support and the second side screensupport.
 12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the roller in the firstside screen support and the roller in the second side screen support aretensioned rollers.
 13. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the support legextends downward from the center support structure to the ground. 14.The assembly of claim 13, further including a support foot for thesupport leg, wherein the support foot is deployed in a perpendiculardirection from the support leg so that the support foot is resting onthe planar surface.
 15. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the pluralityof support legs are connected to a center base support.
 16. The assemblyof claim 15, wherein the center base support is attached to a pluralityof support feet and the plurality of support feet extend to a positionperpendicular to the plurality of support legs.
 17. The assembly ofclaim 15, wherein a plurality of support feet are connected to centerbase support and rest equidistant from each other when resting on aplanar surface.
 18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein a plurality ofsupport feet are connected to the center base support and an angularmeasurement between two of the plurality of support feet is equal to anangular measurement between a different two of the plurality of supportfeet.
 19. The assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality ofsupport feet include a top portion and a bottom portion.
 20. Theassembly of claim 19, wherein the bottom portion of each of theplurality of support feet rotates from the top portion of the supportfeet to provide additional front-to-back stability for the portableprojector screen.
 21. The assembly of claim 5, wherein each of theplurality of support legs includes an inner tubing and an outer tubing,and when released, the inner tubing extends downward from the outertubing to provide the portable screen assembly with height.
 22. Theassembly of claim 1, further including a gear and chain assembly toextend the portable screen assembly to a first position by placing ahandle connected to the gear and chain assembly into a first handleposition, the gear and chain assembly connected to the center supportassembly.
 23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the gear and chainassembly extends the portable screen assembly to a second position byplacing the handle connected to the gear and chain assembly into asecond handle position.
 24. The assembly of claim 1, further including afastening mechanism, a mounting bracket, or a receiving system toconnect the portable screen assembly to a wall to allow the portablescreen assembly to be wall mountable.
 25. The assembly of claim 2,wherein the height adjustment mechanism is connected to the centersupport assembly.
 26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the heightadjustment mechanism includes clamp bars and a clamp bar lockingmechanism which press against a center support leg as the heightadjustment mechanism is moved in an vertical upward direction.
 27. Theassembly of claim 26, wherein the height adjustment mechanism includes arelease lever to unlock the clamp bars and allow the height adjustmentmechanism to move in a vertical downward direction.
 28. A method ofopening a portable screen assembly, comprising: grasping a first sidesupport of the portable screen assembly; and pulling the first sidesupport in a first horizontal direction to a first position, wherein thepulling of the first side support in the first horizontal directionresults in a second side support being opened in an opposite secondhorizontal direction to a first position because an expandable braceassembly is connected to a center support assembly, the first sidesupport, and the second side support and causes the second side supportto be opened when the first side support is pulled.
 29. The method ofclaim 28, further including grasping the second side support of theportable screen assembly and pulling in the second horizontal directionto a second position which results in the first side support beingopened in the opposite first horizontal direction because of theexpandable support brace.
 30. The method of claim 29, further includinggrasping the first side support of the portable screen assembly andpulling in the first horizontal direction to a second position whichresults in the second side support being opened in the opposite secondhorizontal direction to a second position because of the expandablesupport brace.
 31. The method of claim 30, further including deploying asupport foot from a vertical position to a horizontal position.
 32. Themethod of claim 30, further including deploying a plurality of supportfeet from a vertical position to a horizontal position.
 33. The methodof claim 32, further including raising a height adjustment mechanismwhich is connected to the first side support, the center supportassembly, and the second side support in an upward vertical fashion. 34.The method of claim 29, further including hanging the portable screenassembly on a vertical surface before grasping the first side support toopen the portable screen assembly.
 35. The method of claim 29, furtherincluding hanging the portable screen assembly on a vertical surfaceafter the first side support has been pulled to a second position. 36.The assembly of claim 4, wherein the foot or the plurality of feet lockinto place once the foot or plurality of feet are resting horizontallyon a planar surface.
 37. A portable screen assembly capable ofreproducing sound, comprising: a first side support; a second sidesupport; a center support assembly; and a speaker to reproduce sound,the speaker being incorporated into or integrated within at least one ofthe first side support, the second side support, and the center supportassembly.
 38. The portable screen assembly of claim 37, furtherincluding an expandable support brace coupled to the first side support,the second side support, and the center support assembly wherein theexpandable support brace cause a fabric to move off the roller in thefirst side support and the roller in the second side support.
 39. Theportable screen assembly of claim 37, further including a receiver toreceive transmitted sound from an audio device and to transfer thereceived sound to the speaker.
 40. The portable screen assembly of claim39, wherein the receiver is a wireless receiver to receive thetransmitted sound from an audio device via a wireless communicationprotocol.
 41. The portable screen assembly of claim 39, furtherincluding an amplifier, which receives music from a portable musicplayer, and transfers the received music to the speakers.
 42. Theportable screen assembly of claim 41, wherein the amplifier providespower to the speakers through a cable.